Bag apparatus



April 15, 1958 E. A. DICKMANN BAG APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.23. 1956 April 1958 EA. DICKMANN 2,830,295

BAG APPARATUS.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 File d Aug. 23, 1956 FIGZ. 75 f April 15, 1958 E. A.DICKMANN 2,830,295

BAG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EM a. 0M,

A ril 15, 1958 E. A. DICKMANN 2,330,295

BAG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 5 United States PatentBAG APPARATUS Edwin A. Dickmann, Atfton, Mo., assignor to Bemis Bro. BagCompany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August23, 1956, Serial No. 605,774

8 Claims. (Cl. 1-106) This invention relates to apparatus for staplingtogether the two draw-cord legs of a filled draw-cord bag in order tokeep the mouth of the bag closed, and more particularly to apparatus ofthis class wherein filled draw-cord bags are hung by their draw cords onhooks on a conveyor which carries them to a draw-cord stapler adaptedautomatically to clinch a staple around the two draw-cord legs of eachbag adjacent the gathered mouth of the bag.

Prior draw-cord stapling apparatus of the class described has not beenwholly satisfactory because of the absence of any provision tocompensate for the fact that draw'cord bags, even though of the samesize and having the same length of draw cord, may be so difierentlypacked that they hang substantially diiferent distances below theconveyor. For example, in the case of openmesh ten pound potato bags, acompactly packed bag may hang down below the conveyor a distance of teninches, while a loosely packed bag in which the contents are not Wellnested (same length of draw cord and weight of potatoes) may hang downonly seven inches. Assuming that the prior apparatus is adjusted toclinch a staple around the draw cord three-fourths of an inch from thegathered mouth of a loosely packed bag, it will then clinch the staplearound the draw cord three and threefourths inches from the gatheredmouth of a compactly 4 packed bag. Also, the prior apparatus may imposeundue strain on the draw cords, requires manual adjustment to take careof bags of each diflerent size, requires delicate timing adjustment ofthe stapler for a given speed of the conveyor, and requires change oftiming for any change in speed of the conveyor.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofan improved draw-cord stapling apparatus of the class described which isadapted to clinch around the two legs of the draw cord of each bagcarried by the conveyor a staple 'close to the gathered mouth of thebag, substantially regardless of the distance which the bag hangs downbelow the conveyor; the provision of apparatus of the class describedwhich acts without unduly straining the draw cords of the bags; theprovision of apparatus of this class which is adapted to apply thestaple close to the gathered mouths of bags of a range of sizes (with arange of lengths of draw cord) without any adjustment whatsoever of theapparatus; the provision of apparatus of this class of such constructionas to avoid any necessity for delicate timing adjustment of the staplerand also such that the conveyor may be operated at difierent speeds asdesired without requiring any timing adjustment of the stapler; theprovision of apparatus of this class which functions to clinch thestaple entirely around the two legs of the draw cord and avoids havingthe staple pierce the draw cord; the provision of apparatus of thisclass which functions to clinch the staple around the two legs of thedraw cord under the condition of no relative motion between thedraw-cord legs and the stapling mechanism; and the provision ofapparatus of the class described which is of relatively economicalconstruction p 2,836,295 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 and reliable inoperation. Other objects and features wfill be in part apparent and inpart pointed out hereina ter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of an apparatus of this invention asviewed from one side thereof, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,showing parts in a position assumed near the end of a cycle ofoperation;

Fig. 6 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 5, showing parts in a positionassumed shortly after the initiation of a cycle of operation; and,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line '77 of Fig. 1, showingparts in their at-rest position, and with parts broken away.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Figs. 1 and 2, a draw-cord stapling apparatus of this invention is shownto comprise a main frame generally desposts 5 on pedestals 7 with upperand lower horizontal braces 9 and 11 extending between the posts. Theadjustable subframe 3 comprises vertical side members 13 having ahorizontal member 15 extending between their lower ends, the sidemembers 13 having sleeves 17 fixed thereon which are slidable on theposts above the upper brace 9. A screw member 19 extends down from thehorizontal member 15 through a sleeve 21 rotatable in the upper brace 9.The sleeve 21 has a head 23 on its upper end which bears on a thrustbearing 25. The sleeve is internally threaded and has a hand wheel 27fixed on its lower end. The arrangement is such that by turning the handwheel 27 in one direction or the other, the sub-frame 3 may be raised orloweredto diiferent elevations as desired.

At the upper ends of the vertical side members 13 of the sub-frame arecross-bars 29 carrying a pair of tracks 31. A carriage generallydesignated 33 is hung from these tracks and is movable back and forth inhorizontal direction between the side members 13 of the sub-frame. Thecarriage 33 comprises an upper horizontal plate 35, a lower horizontalplate 37, and four vertical tubular spacer posts 39, one at each cornerof the plates Bolts 41 extend through the tubular posts 39 and have nuts43 threaded thereon for holding the carriage posts in assembledrelation. The bolts, at their upper ends, are fixed to roller members 45which ride in the tracks 31. The carriage is biased in a rearwardricetion to a retracted position against a stop 47 on member 15 by apair of spring means indicated at 49. Each spring means 49, as shown, issimply a conventional commercially available dashpot type spring doorcheck. They are carried by one of the sleeves 17. A screw for adjustinga U-shaped yoke which straddles this sleeve, the rear-:

ward ends of the spring means 49 being connected to the Referring to thedrawings, first more particularly to A 3 Y sides of the yoke asiiidic'ated at 57. A itr' 59 E fired on the outer end of, the shaft.

A draw-cord stapler, generally designated 61, is mounted on the lowercarriage plate 37. This stapler is a conventionalcommercially. availabledraw-(rd stapliiig machine with ceftain-reyisions. adapting it for useiii the present invention. In general, the stapler comprises a ho'using63 mounted on .the plate .37 on spacer posts 65, It has a. verticalcamshaftindicatedat 67 ('seeFigsf 5-7). This is adapted to be driven incounterclockwise direction as viewed from above through one revolutionon each stapling operation byrmechanisn'i including] a mechanical clutchindicated at 69; The clu'tclrha's a driving rnernber 71 and a drivenmember 73. The driving. member 71 is adapted to be continuouslydrivernbS' s iicm tot .5, Yiaa be and pull y rive 77. A switch for themotor is indicated at 78in Fig. 1. The driven mernber 73 is fixed on'ashaft- 79 which; extends into the stapler housing 63. Fixed on shaftj)in the housing is adv/Q1111 81 in mesh with a worm gear 83 on thecamshaft 67. H

Means for engaging and disengaging the clutch 69 is shown to compriseashifter 85 seE FigJ), Thisis biased toward the left as viewed in Fig. 7by? a spring plunger 86. Mechanism for opeiating tlie shifter is shownto comprise a solenoid 87 (see Figs L Z and 5) having its plunger 89connected by a 9135 gavel;

93 pivoted at 95 in thehousi ng 63. A;1 nd also pivotedat 95 has its endextending into a groove in the shifter. A spring 101 connected to thelever 93 biases thelatter to the retracted position showdidFig. 7 Aaeg102 is pivoted on the lever 93 at 10:37 The dog bia'sd outward by aspring 104. It has a notch 105 receiving a projection 106 onthe arm 97.Fixed. on the camshaft 67 within the stapler housing is a shiftercontrol cam 107. This engages a follower 10916112 end of a shiftercontrol lever 111 pivoted at 1'13 oii bottom of the stampler housing 63and having a piri 115 at its other end extending into a grbeve 117 in'the shift'er85. g The above described arrangement is such that when thesolenoid 87 is energized, lever 93' is swungcbc wise from its' retractedposition as viewed 111F181 7. Th dog 102 carried by lever 93 engages theprojection on arm 97 and swings arm 97 eloekwis vi Fig. 7 to move theshifter 85 toward the t as vf 'd in Fig. 7 engages the clutch 69andinitiates a stapling cycle. Upon the move'mentpf the shifter to' ther'ight,lever" 111 is swung countereldeltwiselto' m Ye the follower 109away from the earn 107. The s ift'er control earn 107 is developed and II sponse' to deeriergization of the solenoj1d87 and one'revo lution ofthe earn 107, the shifter 85 isre'turned to its retracted Fig. 7position. For thispurpo'sej, the earn is adapted to hold the lever 111from rotating clockwise for an interval after deenergization of thesolenoid tjhen to release the lever 111' to allowit to rotate clocltw sothat the shifter may return leftward to its retracted position. U

Mounted on the stapler housing 63 is a head indicated at 119. The head119 carries a enacnet block 121' pivoted at 123? for swinging movementon a vertical: axis, and conventional mechanism indicated generally at125 for feeding a flat wire W, Cutt ing the wire into staple lengths,and forming each length into a staple and drivingit against the clincherblock 121. Fixed on the upper end ofcams'haft 67 above the housing is alarge stapler control cam 127. This engages a' follower roller 129 on alever 131 pivoted at 133 and connected by a linli 135 to the clincherblock for operating the clincherblo'clt;

A return sprin fer lever 131 is indicatedat 13s;- Pivoted' at 137 onthecahr 127 is a bell crank lever- 1 39' oneiend eoniiec'ted at 140 tofjoi operati wire" feeding; cutting; forming and driving niech nis'r'r'las t e; that in e- 125. The other efi'd of the bell Emit lever isconnecied by,a link 143.10 a gathering arm pivoted at 147. 1 Guides 149and 151 mounted on the carriage 33 define a draw-cord guide passage 153.The guide 149 is constituted by a plate mounted on the stapler housing63. The guide 151 is constituted by a plate adjustably mounted asindicated at 155 on a supporting plate 157. The latter is mounted at thelower end of one leg of a cantilever frame 159 of inverted J-shape, theother (and shorter) leg of the frame 159 being onntedpn the upper e a esrhier awsrdee ne id plates 149 and 151 are angled upward as appears inFigs. 1 and 2. The guideplates 149 and 151have opposed edges 161 and 163shaped so that tliE g'iiide passage 153 has a tapering entrancethrgat165 (see Fig. 5), a straight portion 167, a portion 169 curving aroundon the outside of the arcuate path of the outer end of the gathering arm145, a portion 171 curving back into the ar'cua't'e path of theout'erend oftlie ggthrihg add an exit portion 173 curving outward frdriithe fb' 5rd end of portion 171. The clincher block 121 is rate; biddhits pivot 123 between the' clin'cliin'g' positioh shdwii iii Fig.

6 and the retracted position shown in Fig. 5. Iii the" clinchingposition, it blocks the draw-cord gtiia' sage 153 at the forward end ofthe portion 171 6f mt passage; In the retracted position,- it is clear,6f this- The earn 127 developed and phased guide passage;

so that the clihcherblock 121 occupies its clinching 5a:

Siam; between tapling cycles. 7 H W At 175a indicated a portion of an enless cbiiveydr for conveying filled draw-card bags B to the stafilir 61"for applyin staples s to the draw cords and for" testes;

ing' the bags awa from the stapler after stapling; i'ises' an elidles'sconveyor (which is conventional) com I chain 179 riding in a track 181;Seemed at spaced intervals are brackets 183. A hoo 3 5 31 down from eachbracket. The chiain is eontin'ticius3 driven by suitable means (notshown) the tion from right to left as viewed in Fig: 1'. jhlsfp shown inFig. 1, a filled draw-cord bag B is tmfigay' its draw cord D on each ofthe hooks 185-. fiitfeieni Bags may being down different distances Belownib fibiiiaq due to variations in packing bags of the stini 81%;. thatdue to bags er a range or sizes being batten sifiinltati'e' ously andinte spersed st raid-om on siiejc's's' 6 ears 1831 Th chaiii 179 travelsiii a vertical plane toward the left as viewe iii Fig. 2 w" straightparties 167 of the card guid will ride the edge 1610f guide 149. Thesjlb iiaihi sis vertically adjusted byturiiing hand wheel 2 7 st; thatili guides 149, 151 are located below the hooks a distaiic etiqd: arseclincher block 121 (which is in clinching p'bsitidii); The

engagement of the two legs of the draw cordwith the clincher blockresults, updn" the continued movement 61' the bag and its draw cord bythe conveyor, in the move: ment of the carriage 33 fro'ifn' right t'dl'eft as viewed in Fig. 1 against the return bias or the spring means49.;

The above-stated movement of the carriage is utilized to initiateoperation' fthe stap1er 61 through a" staplin cycle; For this' purpose,there is provided a carriageope'rate'd eontrol switch 187 for thesolenoid 87. This switch 187 is suspended fro'n'i one or the tracts 31as ihdica'ted at 189 andi's adapted to have back and forth iii thetrack; The genesis; 1 andi) lightly ti a p ng member 193 hit the h'tlibtfsi t resiiiibt teats isi fbfiw' the guides 149, 151, so that the drawat) 3 'df dab Bat,

, V arm 191 is suspended from the stated track 31 and is adapted to moveback and forth in the direction of the length of the track. At 195 isindicated a connection between member 193 and the adjacent carriage bolt41. A lost-motion link 197 (see Fig. 4) connects the member 193 and theswitch suspension 189. The arrangement is such that upon movement of thecarriage 33 toward the left from its retracted position shown in Fig. 1,the member 193 is moved toward the left to operate the switch arm 191 toclose the switch. The frictional resistance to movement of the switch issufiicient to hold the switch against movement to the left until themember 193 overcomes the light spring bias on the switch arm 191. Thelost-motion link 197 permits the relative movement between member 193and the switch required to operate the switch arm. Then upon continuedmovement of the carriage toward the left, the switch moves with thecarriage. Upon the return of the carriage toward the right to retractedposition, the lost-motion link 197 permits the member 193 to move awayfrom the switch so that the switch opens, and then the switch moves backwith the carriage.

The sub-frame 3 carries a platform 199 having an upwardly inclinedportion 201 up which the filled bags travel as they approach the staplerand a downwardly inclined portion 203 down which the bags travel as theyleave the stapler. This partially relieves the draw cords of tensionduring stapling. The motor 75 is mounted on a platform 2135 whichextends across the tracks 31. There is suflicient play in the belt ofthe drive 77 to allow the necessary movement of the carriage. The wire Wis drawn from a spool 207 carried at the lower end of a vertical rod 209extending down from the platform 205. Having the motor 75 and spool 207mounted as described withdraws their inertia (which is substantial) fromthe carriage 33.

Operation is as follows:

Filled bags B are hung by their draw cords D on the hooks of theconveyor at a station ahead of the stapling apparatus. The bags aremoved by the conveyor from right to left as illustrated in Fig. 1. As agiven'bag moves along, the two legs of its draw cord D enter the throat165 of the draw-cord guide passage 153 and travel through the straightportion 167 of this passage along the edge 161 of guide plate 149,through the curved portion 169 of the passage around the outer end ofthe gathering arm 145, and into engagement with the clincher block 121.Prior to the time the draw-cord legs enter the throat 165 of passage153, the bag comes into engagement with the portion 291 of the platform109, and slides up this portion of the platform. This partially relievesthe draw cord of the tension caused by the weight of the filled bag.Engagement of the draw-cord legs with the clincher block 121 andcontinued movement of the bag by the conveyor results in movement of thecarriage 33 in the same direction and speed as the bag (from right toleft as viewed in Fig. 1) against the bias of the spring return means49. This bias is adjusted so that movement of the carriage does notoccur, however, until the draw-cord legs, after first coming intoengagement with the clincher block 121, are pulled forward and upward bythe conveyor through the guide passage 153 to a point where the gatheredmouth of the bag is a short distance (three-fourths of an inch, forexample) below the clincher block 121.

Upon the stated movement of the carriage, the switch 187 is closed inresponse to carriage movement, and solenoid 87 is energized to rock thelever 93 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7. The dog 1132 on lever 93 engagesprojection 106 on arm 97 and rocks arm 97 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7to move the shifter 85 to the right as viewed in Fig. 7. This engagesthe clutch 69 to drive the shaft 79. It also swings lever 111counterclockwise from its Fig.7 position. Shaft 79, via gearing 81, 83drives the camshaft 67 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 7. Uponrotation of the camshaft 67 and cams 197 and 127 carried thereby, thepivot 137 on cam 127 for bell crank lever 139 is rotated around thecamshaft axis. The bell crank lever 139 thereupon acts through the link143 to swing the gathering arm 145 counterclockwise on its pivot 147from its retracted position illustrated in Fig. 7 and the end of thegathering arm engages the two draw-cord legs and holds them, bunchedtogether, firmly against the clincher block 121. The bell crank lever139 also acts to move the slide 141 for operating the wire feeding,cutting, forming and driving mechanism 125. This mechanism, as will beunderstood, acts to cut off a length of the wire, form it into a U-shaped staple, and drive the staple against the clincher block to clinchthe staple aroundthe two draw-cord legs. The driving of the stapleoccurs after the gathering arm has acted to hold the draw-cord legsfirmly against the clincher block, there then being no relative motionbetween the draw-cord legs and the clincher block.

Following the driving of the staple, the cam 127 acts to allow themovement of the clincher block 121 to the retracted position shown inFig. 5 under the bias of the spring 136. This frees the draw-cord legs,upon which the stapling operation has been completed, for travel outthrough the exit portion 173 of the guide passage 153. It also frees thecarriage 33 for return to its retracted position under the bias of thespring return means 49. Here it will be understood that the carriage hasbeen moving forward throughout the stapling cycle from the time thedraw-cord legs have been pulled upward and forward past the clincherblock to a point where the gathered mouth of the bag is a short distancebelow the clincher block until the clincher block is retracted. Theswitch 187 opens during the initial phase of the return movement of thecarriage 33, and the solenoid 87 is deenergized. Subsequently, cam 107reaches a position allowing lever 111 to swing clockwise, and the springmeans 86 acts to move the shifter back to the left to disengage theclutch 69. This occurs upon completion of one revolution of the camshaft67. When the clutch disengages, the cam 127 and bell crank lever reachtheir initial position shown in Fig. 7, the gathering arm and the slide141 are returned to their retracted position shown in Fig. 7, and theclincher block 121 is returned to its clinching, passage-blockingposition in readiness for the stapling of the draw-cord legs of the nextbag. It will be understood that the term draw cor is intended to includethe various types of materials used in draw-closure bags, such as strandmaterial, tape (including woven tape), and the like. The apparatus ofthis invention is useful for stapling both open-mesh drawcord bags andplastic draw-cord bags. It will be apparent that it operates to clinch astaple S around the two legs of draw cord D of each bag B carried by theconveyor close to the gathered mouth of the bag regardless of thedistance which the bag hangs down below the conveyor because thedraw-cord legs are pulled against the clincher block 121 to bring thegathered mouth of the bag a short distance from the clincher blockbefore a stapling cycle is initiated. For the same reason, no adjustmentwhatsoever of the apparatus is required to accommodate a range of sizesof bags (with a range of lengths of draw cord) to obtain stapling closeto the bag mouth, and no major adjustment is required for a differentrange of sizes of bags. The only adjustments which may be needed arevertical adjustment of the sub-frame 3 and adjustment of the tension ofspring means 49. Stapling takes place without undue strain on the drawcords because the bags are partially supported by the platform 199. Nodelicate timing adjustment of the stapler is needed and no change inadjustment of timing is required for different conveyor speeds since thesta pling cycle is not initiated until the draw-cord legs are inengagement with, and stationary relative to, the clincher block. Withthe draw-cord guide passage shaped as shown, and located so that thedraw-cord legs ride the edge of the passage toward the stapler, thedraw-cord legs are held by the gathering arm during the actual stapling.in proper position for clinching of the staple around the two legs ofthe cord without piercing either leg of the cord. The curved portion 169of the drawcord' passage permits the draw-cord legs of the bag followingthe one which has just been stapled to move freely in the passagewithout interference from the gathering arm 145 while it is returning toretracted position.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

:As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claimf 1. Apparatus for stapling the draw cords of filled drawcofrclbags hung by their draw cords from a conveyor, said bags travelling withthe conveyor in a predetermined path, comprising a stapler mounted formovement away from a retracted position in the direction of travel ofthe bags, said stapler having a clincher block movable between aclinching position and a retracted position, said clincher blocknormally occupying its clinching. position, said stapler being movableaway from its retracted position by engagement with the clincher blockof the two legs of the draw cord of each bag travelling with theconveyor, and means responsive to movement of the stapler away fromretracted position for effecting operation of the stapler through acycle in which it acts to clinch a staple against the clincher blockaround the two legs of the draw cord in engagement with the block, thenacts to retract the block to allow the stapler to return to retractedposition, and then acts to return the clincher block to clinchingposition.

2. Apparatus for stapling the draw cords of filled drawcord' bags hungby their draw cords from a conveyor, said bags travelling with theconveyor in a predetermined path, comprising a stapler mounted formovement away from a retracted position in the direction of travel ofthe bags and biased to return to retracted position, said stapler havinga clincher block movable between a clinching posi-. tion and a retractedposition, said clincher block normally occupying it's clinchingposition, said stapler being movable away from its retracted position byengagement with the clincher block of the two legs of the draw cord of aeach bag travelling with the conveyor, electrical means for controllingthe operation of the stapler including a switch, and means responsive tomovement of. the stapler away from retracted position for operating theswitch to effect operation of the stapler through a cycle in which itacts to clinch a staple against the clincher block around the two legsof the draw cord in engagement with the block, then acts to retract theblock to allow the stapler to return to retracted position under thestated bias, and then acts to return the clincher block to clinchingposition.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein means is provided foroperating the switch upon the initial movement of the stapler away fromretracted position and then for moving the switch with the carriage.

4'. Apparatus for stapling the draw cords of filled drawcord bags hungby their draw cords from a conveyor, said bags travelling with theconveyor in a predetermined path, comprising a carriage mounted formovement away from a retracted position in the direction of travel ofthe bags, means carried by the carriage defining a guide passage for-thedraw cords, the two legs of the draw cord of each bag travelling withthe conveyor being adapted to enter and travel through the guidepassage, a stapler carried by the carriage having a clincher blockmovable between a clinching position in which it blocks the guidepassage and a retracted position clear of the guide passage,

said clincher blocknormally occupying its clinching, pas sage-blocking.position, said carriage being movable away from its retracted positionbyengagement with the clincher block of the two legs of the draw cord, ofeachbag travelling with the conveyor, and means responsive to movementof the carriage away from retracted position for efiecting. operation.of the stapler through a cycle in which it acts to; clinch av staple:against the clincher block around the two legs of the draw cord inengagement with the block, the'n acts to retract the block to allow thestapled draw cord to pass] out of the passage and to allow the carriageto return to retracted position, and then acts to return the clincherblock to its clinching, passage blocking position. v

5'. Apparatus for" stapling. the draw cords of filled drawcord bags hungby, their draw cords from a conveyor, said bags travelling with theconveyor in a predetermined path, comprising a carriage mounted formovement away from a retracted position in the direction of travel ofthe bags and biased to return to retracted position, means carried bythe carriage defining a guide passage for the i draw cords, the two legsof the draw cord of each bag travelling with the conveyor being adaptedto enter and travel through the guide passage, a stapler carried by thecarriage having a clincher block movable between a clinching position inwhich it blocks the guide passage and a retracted position clear of theguide passage, said clinched block normally occupying its clinching,passageblocking position, said carriage beingmovable away from itsretracted position by engagement with the clinching block of the twolegs of the draw cord of each bag travelling with the conveyor,electrical means for controlling the operation of the stapler includinga switch, and means responsive to movement of the carriage away fromretracted position for operating the switch to effect operation ofthestapler through a cycle in which it acts to clinch a staple against theclincher block around the two legs of the draw cord in engagement withthe block, then acts to retract the block to allow the stapled draw cordto pass out of the passage and to allow the carriage to return toretracted position, and then acts to return the clincher block to itsclinching, passage-blocking position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the switch is mounted formovement away from a retracted position v in the direction of travel ofthe bags, and wherein means is provided for closing the switch upontheinitial move ment of the carriage away from retracted position and thenfor moving the closed switch with the carriage, and for opening theswitchupon the initial return movement of the carriage and then formoving the switch back to its retracted. position.

7. Apparatus for stapling the draw cords of filled draw-cord bags hungby their draw cords from a conveyor, said bags travelling with theconveyor in a predetermined path, comprising a stapler mounted formovement away from a retracted position in the direction of travel ofthe bags, said stapler having a clincher block movable between aclinching position and a retracted position, said clincher blocknormally occupying its clinching position, said stapler having adraw-cord gathering arm movable from a retracted position toward theclincher block, means for guiding the two legs of a draw cord around theend of the retracted gathering arm, said stapler being movable away fromits retracted position by ongagement with the clincher block of the twolegs of 2,ssb,295

retracted position and the clincher block to clinching position.

8. Apparatus for stapling the draw cords of filled drawcord bags hung bytheir draw cords from a conveyor, said bags travelling with the conveyorin a predetermined path, comprising a carriage mounted for movement awayfrom a retracted position in the direction of travel of the bags, meanscarried by the carriage defining a guide passage for the draw cords, thetwo legs of the draw cord of each bag travelling with the conveyor beingadapted to enter and travel through the guide passage, a stapler carriedby the carriage having a clincher block movable between a clinchingposition in which it blocks the guide passage and a retracted positionclear of the guide passage, said clincher block normally occupying itsclinching, passage-blocking position, said stapler having a drawcordgathering arm movable from a retracted position toward the clincherblock, said guide passage having a portion curved around the end of theretracted gathering arm, said carriage being movable away from itsretracted position by engagement with the clincher block of the two legsof the draw cord of each bag travelling with the conveyor, and meansresponsive to movement of the carriage away from retracted position foreffecting operation of the stapler through a cycle in which it acts tomove the gathering arm toward the clincher block, then acts to clinch astaple against the block around the two legs of the draw cord inengagement with the block, then acts to retract the block to allow thestapled draw cord to pass out of the passage and to allow the carriageto return to retracted position, and then acts to return the gatheringarm to retracted position and the clincher block to its clinching,passage-blocking position.

No references cited.

